JAMESTOWN, N.Y. - The Jamestown Jammers (18-4) mounted a fierce comeback in the eighth inning to win by a score of 10-9 against the Albany Dutchmen (10-10) in Jamestown on Sunday.
The Dutchmen got on the board quickly in the first, with a two-run home run by Ubaldo Lopez (Dartmouth). Nick Estrella (Azusa Pacific) continued the scoring with an RBI single in the same frame, and then added a run-scoring double in the third to put the Dutchmen up 4-0.
The Jammers responded in the third with an RBI single by Josh Lamb (UTSA), however the Dutchmen were quick to strike back in the fourth in the form of three runs. An infield error allowed Lucas Dunn (Louisville) to
advance to third, and Zack Durfee (Siena) to score. Back-to-back RBI singles by Lopez and Golston Gillespie (Ole Miss) brought the score to 7-1.
However, things unraveled in the eighth for the Dutchmen. With one out and the bases loaded, pitcher Nick Cummings (North Alabama) hit Sterling Hayes (Vanderbilt) to force in a run. Cole McNamee (Wake Forest) then came on in relief, but couldn’t close out the inning. He induced a sacrifice fly before allowing a run to score on a wild pitch. The next batter, Josh Brammell (North Carolina Central), drove in two more Jammers with a single.
McNamee threw another wild pitch and walked Alex O’Donnell (Mercyhurst) to load the bases, before giving the ball over to Nick Bird (UAlbany) with the score now 9-8. First basemen Brandon Nania (Winston-Salem State) quickly tagged Bird with a two-RBI single to give the Jammers their first lead of the game at 10-9.
Dutchmen starter Dylan D’Anna (Siena) went two and two thirds innings, allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk, while striking out two. He was relieved by Alex Schwartz (RCBC), who tossed three and one third innings of one-run ball. Cummings was charged with five earned runs in one and one third inning, while McNamee was hit with three himself in addition to taking the loss.
Jamestown’s starting pitcher, Isaiah Moten (Cal State Bakersfield), didn’t fare well either, with the Dutchmen hitting him to a tune of seven runs (five earned) on eight hits, while only striking out once over his four innings of work. Kyle McCormick out of Cuesta College picked up the win. Clay Schwaner (Wofford) closed out the game for Jamestown, giving them their 18th victory of the season.
The Dutchmen are off Monday before returning home on Tuesday in a rematch with the Jammers, who hold the league’s best record. The Dutchmen will also be celebrating Salute to America Night as well, first pitch is scheduled for 5:05.